Expressing certainty and knowledge - Expressing emotions, feelings, attitudes and opinions - Functions - A Practical Guide - Modern Italian Grammar

Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part B. Functions

III. Expressing emotions, feelings, attitudes and opinions

29. Expressing certainty and knowledge

29.1 Introduction

This section of the book is about expressing states of mind and emotions. In this particular chapter we look at ways of expressing degrees of certainty, including knowing, remembering and forgetting. The various degrees of uncertainty are reflected in the choice of verb mood: indicative for statements that are concrete or certain, subjunctive for those statements that have an element of uncertainty.

29.2 Sapere

The verb sapere ‘to know’ (see 2.2.3) can be used in four different ways.

With a noun or noun equivalent (a fact or piece of information):

Lei sa quanto è il cambio con la sterlina?

Do you know how much the exchange with sterling is?

Bisogna sapere queste date a memoria.

These dates must be known by heart.

Non so niente di questo.

I don't know anything about this.

With a verb infinitive:

Per chi sa usare il computer, è facile fare acquisti in internet.

For those who know how to use the computer, it's easy to shop online.

With a dependent clause introduced by se:

Sai se arrivano oggi i nostri amici?

Do you know if our friends are arriving today?

With a dependent clause introduced by che:

Sapevamo che lui veniva, ma non l'ora precisa del suo arrivo.

We knew he was coming, but not the precise time of his arrival.

Normally, sapere che and sapere se are followed by a verb in the indicative:

II direttore sa che c'è ancora molto da fare.

The manager knows there's still a lot to do.

Sappiamo se lui vuole il posto?

Do we know if he wants the job?

When sapere is negative, it is often followed by the subjunctive to stress uncertainty, as shown below (see also 32.3). However this is not essential in informal conversation or writing, where the indicative is often used, as shown in the last example:

Non sapevo che tu cantassi così bene.

I didn't know you sang so well.

Non so se si possa rimborsare il biglietto.

I don't know if the ticket can be refunded.

Non so se questa sia una mossa intelligente.

I don't know if this is an intelligent move.

Il mio collega non sa che sta per essere licenziato.

My colleague doesn't know he's about to be sacked.

At the end of a sentence expressing uncertainty, you can add the phrase o no, for example:

Non so se questa sia una mossa intelligente, o no.

I don't know if this is an intelligent move, or not.

29.3 Essere certo, sicuro, convinto

Certainty or uncertainty can be expressed using the verb essere and one of the following adjectives:

certo

certain

convinto

convinced

sicuro

sure

Convinto is the past participle of the verb convincere.

The message that follows can be introduced either by di and the infinitive or by che.

The construction di + infinitive can be used only if the subject of the two parts of the sentence is the same (‘you … you’):

Siete sicuri di trovare la strada?

Are you sure you'll find the road?

Otherwise use che followed by either the subjunctive or the indicative. The indicative (see 2.2.2) is used when you are reasonably certain of something, as in the first example below. The subjunctive (see 2.2.14) is used when the sentence is negative or interrogative, expressing doubt or uncertainty, as in the second example:

Siamo sicuri che questa è la strada giusta, (indicative)

We are sure that this is the right road.

Siete sicuri che questa sia la strada giusta? (subjunctive)

Are you sure that this is the right road?

Here are further examples showing the different uses of indicative and subjunctive after certo and sicuro:

Sono certo che hanno già ricevuto la merce. (indicative)

I am certain they have already received the goods.

Non sono certo che abbiano ricevuto la nostra fattura. (subjunctive)

I'm not certain if they have received our invoice.

Sono sicura che questa è la casa di Cristina.

I'm certain that this is Cristina's house.

Non sono sicura che questa sia la casa di Cristina.

I'm not certain that this is Cristina's house.

In the following two examples, the difference is one of register. The first example uses informal spoken language, and the indicative is used. The second example is a more formal register so the subjunctive is preferred.

Sei sicura che il ristorante è aperto di domenica?

Are you sure that the restaurant is open on Sundays?

Lei è sicuro che il ristorante sia aperto di domenica?

Are you sure that the restaurant is open on Sundays?

When a fact that you are certain of at the time is later disproved, then the subjunctive is essential, after certo, sicuro or convinto:

Eravamo convinti che la merce fosse in magazzino ma ci sbagliavamo. L'avevano rubata.

We were convinced that the goods were in the warehouse, but we were wrong. They had been stolen.

For illustrations of how certo and sicuro are used to express possibility and probability, see 32.2.

29.4 Non … certo, poco certo, incerto, poco sicuro

Lack of certainty can be expressed by adding non or poco to the adjectives seen above:

I ragazzi sono poco sicuri di trovare la strada.

The boys are not at all certain of finding the way.

Il cliente non era certo di ricevere l'ordine.

The customer was not certain of receiving the order.

The adjective incerto, on the other hand, applies not only to personal feelings of uncertainty, but to an uncertain situation:

Sono un po' incerta sul da farsi.

I'm a bit uncertain as to what to do.

È una situazione un po' incerta.

It's an uncertain situation.

29.5 Pensare, credere, sembrare, parere

The verbs pensare, credere ‘to think’, followed by che and the subjunctive, can also express an opinion, with either certainty or uncertainty (see 27.1.12):

pensare/credere che

to think that…

Mia madre pensa che io sia troppo vecchia per sposarmi.

My mother thinks that I am too old to get married.

The impersonal verbs sembrare, parere (see 27.1.3), followed by che and the subjunctive, can be used in a similar way. They are used with an indirect object (noun or pronoun) to indicate the person expressing a view.

(mi) sembra/pare che

it seems (to me)…

A me sembrava che mia madre fosse troppo vecchia per capire.

I thought that my mother was too old to understand.

29.6 Ricordare, dimenticare

‘Remembering’ and ‘forgetting’ are expressed in Italian by the verbs ricordare and dimenticare respectively. Ricordare can express both ‘to remember’ and ‘to remind’.

29.6.1 Ricordare

When ricordare means ‘to remember’, it can be used with or without the reflexive pronoun (see 3.4.3) depending on how involved the person is (see also 2.1.10). It can be followed by a noun (the person or thing remembered) either directly or preceded by di, by di + infinitive, or by che + indicative:

I professori ricordano solo gli studenti più bravi.

The teachers only remember the cleverest students.

Daniela ha aspettato mezz'ora davanti all'Università perché non ci siamo ricordati di lei.

Daniela waited half an hour in front of the University because we didn't remember her.

Non ti ricordi dove hai messo quella cartella?

Don't you remember where you put that file?

Ricordati di comprare il giornale.

Remember to buy the newspaper.

Il vigile si ricordava di aver visto la macchina parcheggiata vicino all'incrocio.

The traffic warden remembered seeing the car parked near the crossroads.

Mia moglie si è ricordata che io avevo lasciato i biglietti sul comodino.

My wife remembered that I had left the tickets on the bedside cabinet.

When ricordare means ‘to remind’, it takes as indirect object a noun or pronoun, to indicate the person or people being reminded:

Il direttore ha ricordato agli impiegati la riunione generale alle 6.00.

The director reminded the employees of the general meeting at 6 o'clock.

Questa casa ci ricorda le vecchie case di montagna.

This house reminds us of the old houses in the mountains.

Ricordare can also be followed by di and a verb infinitive:

Stasera cambia l'ora. Ricordami di aggiustare l'orologio.

Tonight the clocks change. Remind me to adjust my watch.

Un ricordo conveys the idea of nostalgia rather than a practical reminder:

Questo orsacchiotto è un ricordo della mia infanzia.

This teddy bear is a reminder/souvenir of my childhood.

Finally ricordare can also be used with the sense of ‘to commemorate’:

Oggi ricordiamo il nostro caro compagno Enrico.

Today we remember our dear companion Enrico.

29.6.2 Dimenticare

Like ricordare, dimenticare ‘to forget’ can be used, with or without a reflexive pronoun, with a noun (‘something, someone’) or with a verb, followed either by di + infinitive or by che + indicative:

Scusi, ho dimenticato il Suo nome.

I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name.

Marco, non dimenticare di prendere le chiavi.

Marco, don't forget to take your keys.

Carla, ti sei dimenticata di comprare la carta igienica.

Carla, you forgot to buy toilet paper.

Mio marito si era dimenticato che oggi è il nostro anniversario.

My husband had forgotten that today is our anniversary.

It can also mean ‘to leave something behind’:

Mia moglie ha dimenticato la borsa in ufficio.

My wife left her briefcase in the office.

Lastly, verbs of ‘remembering’ and ‘forgetting’ (ricordare, dimenticare) can also convey uncertainty, by use of the subjunctive or conditional mood:

Non mi ricordo se Carlo abbia già compiuto 40 anni.

I don't remember if Carlo has already reached 40 or not.

La direttrice aveva dimenticato che la segretaria sarebbe stata in vacanza.

The manager had forgotten that the secretary would be on holiday.